Klee Irwin's Natural At-Home Program for Pre-Diabetes Intervention
Part IV: Nutritional Supplements
As a leading Formulator of Nutritional Products and Natural Health Advocate, Klee Irwin affirms that, in addition to diet and exercise, several traditional herbal extracts and specialized nutrients can support normal blood-sugar levels and overall health.
For instance, Fenugreek impacts blood sugar in healthy ways. Emerging
scientific evidence suggests that this Indian herb may activate certain "on-off
switches" in the cell receptors that respond to insulin. New laboratory
research suggests that Fenugreek may act as a "spare key" to
the cellular receptors that have become "locked" and unresponsive
to insulin. Some Indian physicians also believe that Fenugreek compounds
signal cells in the liver and adipose tissue to transport sugars out of
the bloodstream (Vijayakumar et al, 2005).
The trendiest of these herbs is Banaba Leaf. The traditional use of Banaba Leaf extracts began in the Philippines, yet the plant itself is familiar to American gardeners and homeowners as crepe myrtle. Banaba seems to have a positive affect on blood sugar. Some researchers have speculated that Banaba Leaf enhances the actions of the important insulin-receptor genes in the body without causing weight gain (Park, Lee & Sung, 2005). According to Dr. Yousry Naguib, a researcher who has looked at several types of products, soft-gel formulations of Banaba Leaf may be the most completely absorbed. Klee Irwin has made soft gel formulations a cornerstone of his top-selling product line.
Certain antioxidant nutrients also can be useful, because high blood sugar creates oxidative stress on the cells and tissues in the body. A high-quality Green Tea extract can not only provide antioxidant relief to oxidative stress but can also help with both blood-sugar regulation and weight control. With such significant benefits, Klee Irwin has long touted the use of Green Tea in any nutritional plan. New research indicates that a specific type of Cinnamon — but not the Cinnamon commonly found on pastries — can also help those with pre-diabetes. (For more information about the use of this amazing botanical, read "Anti-Sugar Effects of Cinnamon".)
Feeling 30 at 60... and Beyond
Six years after being diagnosed, Lori remains diabetes-free. Her doctor attributes her success to her faithfulness to her new lifestyle choices. "I haven't eaten anything fried - except the occasional single tortilla chip - in years," she says. Lori seldom eats meat, and when she does it is broiled, grilled or roasted. Lori's dietary changes and supplementation habits have become second nature. "I want to be just as happy, independent and active as I am now at 37 when I'm old," she says, adding with a smile, "really, really old." For Klee Irwin, this is a success story.
Klee Irwin's Health Focus:
Salt, Fat and the Diabetic Heart
While most people know that diabetics and pre-diabetics need to avoid sugar, it's also important to avoid salt. A research team at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis recently announced the findings of scans conducted on the hearts of 11 diabetic and 11 healthy volunteers. The scans showed that healthy hearts were powered primarily by glucose, while diabetic hearts were powered largely by fat. Far more oxygen is required for burning fat than for burning glucose, so diabetics are much more vulnerable to heart tissue damage when the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart is interrupted. The research team announced that they believe it's not enough to control blood glucose. It's also necessary to reduce the heart's preference for fatty-acid fuel by limiting salt in the diet (Herrero et al, 2006).
Anti-Sugar Effects of Cinnamon
Health experts from Andrew Weil to Mehmet Oz to Klee Irwin, Nutritional
Supplement Pioneer and Natural Health Visionary, agree that a specialized
Cinnamon extract may work to enhance blood-sugar control and cholesterol
levels for patients with type-2 diabetes. They cite a study done in Pakistan
and reported in an issue of Diabetes Care magazine. But it's important
to note the kind of Cinnamon used in the study. The species that supports
healthy blood sugars is the South Asian spice Cinnamomum cassia, the kind
of cinnamon used in curry. It is not Cinnamomum verum, the kind of cinnamon
used to make cinnamon rolls. Taking the right kind of cinnamon is essential
to its efficacy (Khan et al, 2003).
* Actual name(s) have been changed to protect confidentiality.
References
- Baxter, A.J., Coyne, T. & McClintock, C. (2006). Dietary patterns and metabolic syndrome: A review of epidemiologic evidence. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 15(2), 134–142.
- Burani, J. & Rao, L. (2002.) Good Carbs, Bad Carbs: An Indispensable Guide to Eating the Right Carbs for Losing Weight and Optimum Health. New York: Marlowe & Company.
- Burani, J. & Longo, P.J. (2006) Low-glycemic index carbohydrates: An effective behavioral change for glycemic control and weight management in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Educator, 32(1), 78–88.
- Ford, E.S., Giles, W.H. & Dietz, W.H. (2002). Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among US adults: Findings from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. JAMA – Journal of the American Medical Association, 287(3), 356–359.